Roberta Watson Corkum, 90

Former Aurora music shop owner was pianist, vocalist

March 25, 2004|By Joan Giangrasse Kates, Special to the Tribune.

In the late 1950s, when the doors of her family's popular and long-held music store in Aurora closed, Roberta Watson Corkum was saddened, yet happy to be alive and healthy. She had recently recovered from colon cancer and was ready to relax and spend time with her loved ones.

But, according to family members, Mrs. Corkum was also looking forward to devoting her retirement years to two of her greatest passions--religion and music.

"Closing the store was traumatic for her, because she was so very proud of it," said her daughter, Shirley Whitecotton. "But between her activities at the church, her singing engagements and all the hours she spent at the piano entertaining everyone she knew, she was busier than ever before."

Mrs. Corkum, 90, of Wheaton, previously of Aurora, the former owner of the Watson Music House, died Monday, March 22, in Central DuPage Hospital in Winfield after a stroke.

Mrs. Corkum was born in Aurora 6 years after her father founded the business in 1907. For many years he ran the store, which later became known as Watson Music House, before turning the reigns over to his daughter, who became the owner in the early 1940s.

"My grandfather had to mortgage his house to open the store, but it was a good move because the business really prospered over the years," said her daughter.

The store, which initially sold only pianos, grew to include organs, band instruments and an array of sheet music. It also carried an assortment of appliances, such as televisions and radios.

"Nowadays you won't find stores selling a lot of sheet music, because there's not much profit in it," said her daughter. "But back then our store had drawers and drawers of it."

Before taking over the business, Mrs. Corkum attended Columbia Conservatory of Music in Chicago. It was there she honed her skills as a vocalist and pianist.

"Besides being very gifted musically, she was also a born performer," said her daughter. "She had no problem getting up in front of a group of people and doing what came naturally."

Before moving to Wheaton in 1990, Mrs. Corkum was active in the Claim Street Baptist Church of Aurora, where she was a pianist and choir member for more than six decades. She also sang soprano for a semiprofessional musical trio for many years, performing at social and cultural events in the Fox Valley.

Other survivors include her husband of 55 years, Ronald; three granddaughters; and seven great-grandchildren.

Visitation will be held from 12:30 p.m. Thursday until the 1 p.m. services in Hultgren Funeral Home, 304 N. Main St., Wheaton.